Leadership and Gender

Abstract

The chapterpresents an overview of challenges facing women in school leadership. The study investigated the challenges faced by female school heads because of their gender in one rural district in Zimbabwe. Gender disparities in favour of men have become a norm among the challenges faced by female heads. These include negative attitude from some parents and teachers undermined because of their gender and lack of confidence. Also, multiple conflicts emanating from teachers resulted in women leaders being victims of gender discrimination in the schools. This study derived from a qualitative case study undertaken in Zimbabwe that was conducted to establish challenges faced by women in higher education leadership. Grounded in the qualitative paradigm and using the social realist theoretical analytical framework, the research findings indicated that cultural and social barriers continue to grow and pose a formidable barrier to women in leadership positions.